Cotton-harvester.



PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

A. CAMPBELL.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1904 'YSHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL,

. ml... m wm AT No. 777,595. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904. A. CAMPBELL.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1904.

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A. CAMPBELL.

SUTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 25. 1904 '7 EHBETS-SHEET 3.

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A. CAMPBELL.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLIUATION TILED JAN.25,1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

NO MODEL.

1%, l war/yam No. 777,595. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904. v A. CAMPBELL.

COTTON HARVESTER;

APPLICATION FILED MK. 25. 1904. N0 MODEL 78HETB-SEBBT 5.

No. 777,595. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904. A. CAMPBELL. COTTON HAEVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1904.

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N0 MODEL.

PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

A. CAMPBELL. GOTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

N0 MODEL.

STATES if NITE Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT FFICE.

eoTTon-|-iAnvesTEa SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,595, dated December 13, 1904.

I Application filed January 25, 1904. Serial No. 190,554. (No model.)

To all whom, (it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANeUs OAMPB ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton -Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in power mechanism for propelling cotton-harvesting machines in the field and also for actuating relatively movable parts or submechanisms of the machine.

While certain features of my improvements may be found applicable to other machines, they have been devised and applied by me in connection with a cotton-l'larvesting machine of a typefirst shown and described by me in Letters Patent No. M2794, granted July 16, 1895, and also in subsequent patents granted to me, notably No. 685,440, dated October 529, 1901.

Briefly stated, a cotton-harvesting machine of the type in question comprises a frame mounted on running-gear which is adapted to straddle and override the cotton-plants in the field. Suspended from the frame is a pair of vertically-adjustable companion casings having parallel inner sides formed with spaced longitudinally-extending slats. In each casing is a series of vertical carriers pivotally supported to travel an endless course, which at the inner side of the casing is in the backward direction. On each carrier is a vertical series of horizontal rotary picker-stems. in operation the machine is moved along a row of standing plants, the casing passing across opposite sides thereof. The rotating pickerstems projecting inward from the casings intermesh in the plants and travel in a backward direction in the casings at the same rate of speed as that of the forward travel of the machine. They are thrust at the forward end of their course longitudinally into the plants, rotated in an extended position, stationary with relation to the plants to gather the cotton from open bolls, then withdrawn longitudinally from the plants into the casings. As the carriers move forward in the machine they turn on their pivots and draw the pickerstems between stationary strippers, which re move the cotton from the spindles. The cotton thus deposited in the casings is engaged by elevating mechanism, which raises and discharges it from the machine. As hitherto provided the machines have been constructed with a view to their being drawn across the field by animal-power, all relatively moving parts being actuated from the running-gear.

My present objectis to provide the machine with a self-contained engine and improved mechanism actuated by the engine for propelling the machine and for operating the relatively movable parts thereof which perform the functions of gathering, strippi ng, and discharging the cotton, as well as those for adjusting the mechanisms which perform the said functions.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine with the support of the drivers seat in section; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 3, an elevation of the forward end; Fig. 4, a rear end elevation of the machine with parts removed therefrom; Fig. 5, a broken longitudinal section taken on line 5 in Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. (i, an enlarged section taken on line 6 in Figs. 2 and 5; Fig. 7, a further eltilarged broken sectional view of details, taken on line 7 in Fig. 1; Fig. 8, an enlarged broken plan section taken on line 8 in Fig. 6; Fig. 9, an enlarged broken section taken on line 9 in Fig. l, and Fig. 10 an enlarged broken section taken on line 10 in Fig. 1.

A is the main frame of the iinachine, constructed of channel-beams an d shaped as shown in Fig. l. Mounted on the frame is an engine B, which may be either a steam or a gas en gine or any other suitable power-generating device. .111 the present machine 'I. have shown for convenience a power-generator in the form of a gas-engine of well-known construction which operates to rotate at constant speed a shaft C, provided at one end with a fly-wheel a, forming a friction clutch member. In line with the shaft C and extending forward therefrom to a power-transmitting gear device 1) is a shaft l l, carrying a friction member Z), adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the friction clutch member a. The

f with the wheel 0.

shaft E when clutched to the shaft O forms the main shaft of the machine, from which all the moving parts are driven. On the shaft E is a sprocket-wheel 0, and journaled in brackets (Z on the under side of the frame is a counter shaft F, provided at one end with a sprocket-wheel e, geared by means of a chain On the shaft F is a pinion g, meshing with the gear 72, of a differential gear device, driving the shafts 11 71;, Fig. 5. The shaft drives the forward running-gear of the machine and the shaft in the rear running-gear.

In the present construction the machine is propelled by power applied to each of its four wheels, and to permit the wheels to rotate at desired propelling speeds under all conditions, as in turning corners or while moving over uneven ground, the said wheels are independently geared to the shafts which .drive them, as hereinafter explained. The front tractionwheels H H are the steering-wheels, while the rear traction-wheels I are always parallel with the main frame.

On opposite sides of the rear end of the frame A are downward-extending brackets Z, shaped as shown in Figs. 2 and L and forming the outer supports for stationary axles m. The wheels I have ball-bearing hubs n of wellknown construction journaled upon the said axles. Between the brackets Z at the inner side of the frame is a braced and arched axle bracket-frame 19, forming at its lower ends supports for the inner ends of the stationary shafts or axles m. The arched axle-frame p is adapted to override cotton-plants in the field. The hubs a of the wheels 1, at the inner sides of the latter, carry sprocket-wheels q q.

Firmly secured to the forward end of the frame A and forming, in effect, an integral part thereof is a saddle K, presenting at its under side concave bearing-surfaces 9* 1'.

L is a rocking axle-frame having a cylindrical forward end portion 8, presenting annular bearing-surfaces s s, on which the saddle-surfaces 1* a" rest. The cylindrical portion 8 is split horizontally, as indicated in Fig. 3, into upper and lower members. The upper member carries laterally-extending arms ti and the lower member laterally extending brackets o o, fittingagainst the under surfaces of the arms 25. The outer end portions of the brackets Q) are formed with downwardextending sleeves w w, presenting circumferential shoulders 10 and bearing-surfaces 20 10 as shown in Fig. 6. Above the bearing-surfaces w are annular shoulders 20*. Turning upon each downward-extending sleeve 10 is a tapering hollow leg :0, provided at its upper end with a worm-wheel a" and terminating at its lower end in a bracket x carrying a horizontally-extending stub-shaft y. The wheels H are journaled on ball-bearings on the stub-shafts y. Each leg 0 fits and rotates at its upper endagainst the bearing-shoulder w and at bearing-surfaces {0 /1 against the bearing-surfaces 10 4.0

At the forward end of the shaft 5 is a bevelgear 7., meshing with a chambered bevel-gear 2 forming part of a differential gear device M, housed in the cylindrical portion of the axle-frame L. The differential gear M is of common construction and is shown in detail in Fig. 8. The gear 2 is journaled at a hub 9 at one side of its chambered center upon the hub of an inner bevel-gear 10, which in turn is keyed to a shaftv 11, extending through a journal-bearing formed between one of the arms t and brackets c, Fig. 3. The shaft 11 is provided at its outer end with a miter-gear 12. Abutting against the end of the shaft 11 mentioned is another shaft 11, also journaled in a bearing formed between the other arm 6 and bracket 01 and carrying a miter-gear12 at its outer end. Keyed to the second said shaft 11 is a bevel-gear 13, corresponding with the gear 10. A hub portion 14 of the chambered gear is journaled upon the hub of the bevelgear 13. Rotating upon the adjacent ends of the shafts 11 and confined between the hubs of the gears 10 and 13, respectively, is a sleeve 15, formed with oppositely-extending radial arms 16 16, extending at their outer ends through openings 17 17 in the chambered portion of the gear 2. J ournaled on the arms or stub-shafts 16 are loose bevel-pinions 18 18. The construction is such that in the rotation of the shaft and pinion e" the gear-wheel .2 is rotated and rotates the sleeve 15 and its arms 16. This carries the pinions 18 around and causes them by their interlocking engagement with the gears 10 13 to rotate the shafts 11 11. If the resistance againstturning of both shafts 11 is the same, the said shafts will be rotated equally and at the speed of the gear-wheels .2; but if the resistance to turning of one shaft 11 is greater than that of the other shaft 11 the pinions 18 will rotate upon their individual axes, thus permitting one of said shafts to move more slowly than the other.

' As before stated, differential gear mechanisms of this type are old in mechanics and well known, so that further detailed description is not considered necessary.

The saddle K is held to the cylindrical por- .tion of the axle-frame by strips or stirrups r 9*, extending under the surfaces 8, as indicated. The miter-gears 12 mesh with the miter-gears 19 on shafts 20, extending through and journaled in the sleeves w and legs On the lower ends of the shafts w are bevelpinions 21, meshing with bevel-gears 22 on the hubs of the wheels H. Turning of the shaft '5 and the shafts 11, as described, rotates the shafts 20 and wheels H. In turningacorner one wheel may travel faster than the other owing to the differential gear M described, and the construction involving the axle-frame L and saddle K, oscillating on a common center at the shaft it, permits the wheels H to rise and fall one at a time without rocking the forward end portion of the machine.

At the rear end of the shaft 71; is a bevelpinion driving a differential gear N, Fig. 4, in all essential respects like the difierential gear M described. This differential gear N rotates shafts 23 23, journaled in the rear end portion of the frame A and carryingsprocketwheels which drive sprocket-chains 24 and through them the sprocket-wheels g on the rear wheels l. Owing to the differential gear O, which is constructed in all essential respects like the differential gears M N, (with the exception that its driving-gear it is of the spur instead of the bevel type,) the shafts Ur; are driven with equal velocity when they present equal resistance, as when traveling in a straight line, and either of said shafts may rotate at slower speed than the other, as when the machine is turning, and owing to the differential gear N one wheel I may travel at slower speed than the other, as when the machine is turning a corner.

Journaled in brackets 25 on the brackets o of the front axle-frame L, Fig. 3, is a steering-shaft 26, carrying toward its outer ends worms 27, meshing with the worm-wheels m on the legs a: and provided with a central mitergear 28. The axle-frame L rocks on a center corresponding with the center of rotation of the shaft 7;, as before stated, and the said frame has a baclnvard-extending part L, terminating in a sleeve portion 29, Fig. 5. is a cross-brace forming part of the main frame of the machine, and on its under side is a sleeve 31, surrounding the shaft Extending through the sleeve 31 around the shaft a? is a sleeve 32, over which the sleeve 29 loosely fits. The axle-frame L is formed on its under side with bearingbrackets 33 33 33 for a shaft 34, beneath and parallel with the shaft and carrying a miter-wheel 85, meshing with the miter-wheel 28 on the wormshaft 26. On the shaftt' in the frameformed by the axle-frame L are oppositely-facing miter-wheels 36 37, Figs. 5 and 7, formed integrally with cone clutch members 38 39, re spectively. Adapted to engage the clutch members 88 39 are conical sliding clutch members 46 41, respectively, having grooved sleeves 42 43, respectively, engaged by swinging levers 44 45, respectively, the levers being connected together by a link 46, and the lever 45 being long, as shown in Fig. 5, and terminating in a handle 47. 48 is a short vertical shaft provided at its lower end with a mitergear 49, meshing with a miter-gear 50 on the shaft 34. On the upper end of the shaft 48 is a miter-gear 51, engaging the miter-gears 36 37, which miter -gears 86 37 are loose upon the shaft '11. By moving the handle47 eitherclutch member 40 0141 maybe slid into clutching engagement with the clutch member 38 or 89, so that either the pinion 36 or 37 may be caused to rotate the pinion 51 and through it the shaft 48, pinion 49, pinion 50, and shaft 34.

When it is desired to turn a corner or turn the machine in the field, the said handle47 may be moved to cause the shaft 54, as described, to move in one direction or the other to turn the worm-shaft 26, and thus turn simultaneously the legs a: of the front wheels.

On the beam 30 is a standard 52, forming a hearing at its upper end for a stud-shaft 53. Journaled on the shaft a sleeve 54, carrying a hand-wheel 55 and asprocket-wheel 56. The sprocket-wheel 56 is geared, by means of a chain 57, to a sprocket-wheel 58, journaled on the sleeve 32. Another sprocket-wl1eel, 59, integral with the wheel 58, is geared, by means of aehain 60, to a sprocket-wl'ieel 61, keyed to the shaft 34. Thus at any time---as, for example, when the machine is not being propelled from the shaft 2?, and therefore cannot be steered by movement of the handle 47the front wheels may be turned by means of the supplemental steering mechanism described, operated by the steering-wheel The casings P, in which the picker mechanisms are mounted, are suspended, as in my previous construction, upon vertical screws 62, passing through nuts 68, formed with sprocket-wlieels 64. On the shaft i in the position shown is a sliding sleeve 65, Figs. 5 and 9, feathered upon the shaft and provided at opposite ends with opposite]y-disposed friction-cones 66 and 67. J ournaled in a bracket 68, forming part of the main frame, is a vertical shaft 69, provided at its lower end with a friction-cone 70, adapted to engage either the cone 66 or 67. On the shaft 69 is a sprocket-wheel 71 in the plane of the sprocketwheels 64. All of the said s 'irocket-wheels are geared together by a sprocket-chain 72. On an arm 7 8, extending in the backward direction from one side of the bracket 68, is fulcrumed a rock-shaft 74, provided at one end with an upward-extending lever 75 and at its opposite end with a linger 76, extending between annular shoulders 77 on the sliding eonesleeve 65. Movement of the lever 75 causes either the cone 66 or 67 to be slid into engi'igement with the friction-cone 70. As the cones 66 and 67 rotate with the shaft vi, on which they are feathered, engagement of one of said conesurfaces with the cone will turn the shaft 69 and through the chain 72 turn all the nuts 63. Depending upon which of the cones 66 or 67 is brought into engagement with the cone 7 O, the picker-casings II. will he raised or lowered simultaneously and equally. On the shaft 69 is a hand-wheel 78, whereby the raising and lowering may be effected by hand when the shaft 1: is not running.

J ournaled in short standards 79 on both the casings P, Figs. 2 and 10, is a cross-shaft 8t), which drives the pickermechanisms, as in my former construction. J ournaled in the same standard on one casing P is a vertical shaft 81, having a miter gear 82 at its lower end -crank-arm loosely embracing thesleeve 97 in driving a miter-gear 83 on the shaft 80. The cotton-picker-mechanism-driving shaft 81 is squared above the bearing 79 and passes upward through a squared opening in the hub of a miter-gear 84. The miter-gear 84 is journaled in a bracket 85 on the upper side of the frame A, Fig. 1, and meshes with a miter gear-wheel 86 on a horizontal inwardly-extending shaft 87. On the shaftz' in the position shown is a bevel gear-wheel 88. Loosely surrounding the shaft 87 is a sleeve 89, carrying a bevel-gear 90, meshing with the bevelgear 88. Also upon the sleeve 89 is a cupped disk 91, provided with a facing or filler 92, of fiber or other friction material. Set against the filler 92 is a disk 93, formed around its center or hub portion with ratchet-teeth 9 1. The disks 91 93 and filler 92 are held in desired frictional engagement by aring 95, fastened to the cup-shaped disk 91 by means of thumb-screws 96. Feathered upon the shaft 87 to move longitudinally thereon is a sleeve 97, formed in its end with ratchet-teeth 98, adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth 9 1. The teeth are held normally in engagement by a spring 99, confined between the bracket 85 and end of the sleeve 97. The sleeve 97 has an annular groove 100. Mounted on the main frame A is a vertical rock-shaft or rod 101, provided at its upper end with a crank-arm 102 and at its lower end with a bifurcated the groove 100. Turning ofthe rod 101 in one direction will withdraw the sleeve 97 away from the disk 93 to disengage the clutch mechanism or ratchet-teeth 94 98. On the frame is a quadrant 103, having a notch to receive the crank 102 to hold the parts out of engagement against the resistance of the spring 99.

In the rotation of the shaft a the bevelpinion 88 rotates the bevel-gear and through the safety clutch mechanism 91 92 93 rotates the sleeve 97 and through it the shaft 87 to operate the picker mechanism. This mechanism may be readily thrown out of engagement by turning the crank or handle 102 as described. In the event that the picker mechanism becomes clogged or sticks for any other reason the resistance thereof will overcome the resistance of the safety clutch mechanism described, and thus prevent injury.

The operator sits upon a seat 104:, all the operating-handles being located within easy reach. The engine B may, as before stated, be any desired form of power device which will turn the main drive-shaft, and through it the other shafts, at suitable speed. The safety friction clutch mechanism (a b will prevent overloading of the motor or stopping of the engine-shaft C in the event that the shafts z' or it meet with undue resistance to turning from any cause. On the transmission-gear D is the usual handleas, for example, the broken handle I), illustrated in Fig. 2-where by the shaft E may be moved longitudinally to throw the clutch membersb a into and out of engagement or to regulate the pressure of the member 1) against the member a, and also on the said transmission-gear is a handle or hand-wheel D operating a lever or segment D whereby the gears may be shifted in a cornmon manner to change the speed of the driven shaft. Thusby manipulating the handles D D the operator may start and stop movement of the drive-shaft and regulate its speed of rotation.

Guiding or steering of the machine may be effected with great accuracy by moving the steering-lever 17 or turning the steering-wheel 55, which operate as before described, and while the machine is traveling the operator may readily raise or lower the picker mechanisms .P by means of the lever 75 or handlever 78 to operate thoroughly upon plants of different heights.

While I prefer to construct the machine throughout as shown and described, my improvements may be variously modified in the matter of details of construction without changing the spirit of my invention as set forth in the claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with the main frame, of a saddle on the forward end thereof, a forward axle-frame to which said saddle is pivotally secured, an engine on the main frame, cotton-picker-mechanism-supporting casings suspended from said frame, a forwardly-extending drive-shaft operatively geared to said engine, cotton-pickerdriving mechanism operativelygeared to said forward drive-shaft, forward traction-wheels on the axle-frame, and cross-extending traction-wheel-driving shafts in the axle-frame, operatively connected with said drive-shaft and to each other through differential gear mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with the main frame and cotton-picker-mechanism-supporting casings suspended from said frame, of an engine thereon, a forwardly-extending drive-shaft operatively geared to the engine, cotton-picker-driving mechanism operatively geared to said shaft, a forward axleframe, downwardly-extending legs pivotally mounted in the axle-frame, forward framesupporting steering-wheels journaled on the legs, a steering-shaft to which said legs are geared, and means for throwing said steering-shaft into and out of operative connection with said drive-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with the main frame, cottonpicker-mechanism-supporting casings, operators seat and engine on said frame, of a forwardly-extending drive-shaft operatively geared to the engine, cotton-picker-driving mechanism operatively geared to said shaft, a forward axle fran'1e, downwardly-extending legs pivotally mounted in the axle-frame, forward frame-surmorting steering-wheels journaled on the legs, a steering-shaft to which said legs are geared, clutch mechanism for throwing said steeringshaftinto and out of operative connection with said driveshaft, and an operating-lever for said clutch mechanism adjacent to said seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 4. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with the main frame, cotton-picker-mechanism sumaorting casings and cottonpickerdriving mechanism thereon, of a seat for the operator and an engine on said frame with which said mechanism is operatively geared, a forwardly-extending drive-shaft operatively geared to the engine, a forward axle-frame, downweirdly-extending legs pivotally mounted in the axle-frame, forward frame-supporting steering-wheels journaled on the legs, a steering-shaft to which said legs are geared, clutch mechanism for throwing said steering-shaft into and out of operative connection with said drive-shaft, an operating-lever for said clutch mechanism adjacent to said seat, and an independent steering-shaftturning mechanism adjacent to the said seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with the main frame, a main drive-shaft, and

cotton-picker-mechanism-supporting casings suspended from the frame, of raising and lowering mechanism for sald casings, and clutch mechanism for throwing said raising and lowering mechanism into and out of operative connection with said drive-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with the main frame, operators seat, main drive-shaft, and cotton-picker-mechanismsupporting casings suspended from the frame, of raising and lowering mechanism for said casings, clutch mechanism for throwing said raising and lowering mechanism into and out of operative connection with said drive-shaft, and an operating-lever for said clutch mechanism adjacent to the said seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a cotton-harvester, the combination with the main frame, operators seat, main drive-shaft, and cotton -picker-mechanismsupporting casings suspended from the frame, of raising and lowering mechanism for said casings, clutch mechanism for throwing said raising and lowering mechanism into and out of operative connection with said drive-shaft, an operating-lever for said clutch mechanism adjacent to the said seat, and operating mech anism, independent of said clutch mechanism adjacent to said seat, for said raising and lowering rnechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WV. B. DAVIES, F. M. Wm'rz. 

